New and horrifying details are emerging in the serious espionage case in Haifa, following the filing of an indictment against the main suspect, 22-year-old Ami Gaydarov.

The indictment, submitted by the Haifa District Prosecutor’s Office, paints a troubling picture of a real terror infrastructure being established in the heart of a residential neighborhood. According to the charges, Gaydarov not only gathered intelligence for his Iranian handlers but also actively manufactured explosives in significant quantities intended for deadly attacks in crowded areas across Israel.

According to the indictment, Gaydarov set up an improvised “explosives lab” in two separate apartments within the same building. He initially operated from a third-floor apartment but moved his activity to a first-floor unit after fearing he was under surveillance by security forces.

Inside these apartments, he produced TATP on a daily basis—sometimes hundreds of grams at a time—eventually accumulating around 10 kilograms of ready-to-use explosive material.

According to an I24NEWS report, the suspect was fully aware that the explosives were intended for lethal terror attacks. In addition to plans to target a senior public figure, he was aware that the devices were meant for bombings at bus stops and other crowded locations, with the clear intent of causing mass civilian casualties. He even volunteered to carry out a suicide bombing, a suggestion that was rejected by his Iranian handler.

In one incident, the suspect was reportedly filmed conducting a test explosion with a friend in an underground parking garage near his residence. They placed an explosive device in a plastic cup, ignited it, and fled the scene due to the powerful blast.

The operational link between Gaydarov and his Iranian handler began in August 2025. Over time, he carried out numerous security-related tasks in exchange for payments totaling more than 70,000 shekels ($23,000), transferred via cryptocurrency to obscure the money trail.

To maintain covert communication, he purchased dedicated phones and sent his handler regular documentation of the explosives production as proof of completing assignments. During the war, he was also instructed to photograph the Haifa port and missile impact sites in northern Israel, and to locate an apartment overlooking the port for the installation of a fixed surveillance camera.

It was previously revealed that one of the high-profile targets marked for assassination by the Iranian network was former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Additional suspects, residents of northern Israel, were arrested for assisting in acquiring materials and concealing the explosives.

Security officials emphasize that this case represents a significant and alarming escalation in efforts by Iranian intelligence to recruit Israeli citizens for terrorism and espionage activities within the country—often through digital platforms and promises of substantial financial rewards. The case is being investigated jointly by the Shin Bet and the police’s Lahav 433.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)